Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by Susan Bailey on the life, works and legacy of Louisa May Alcott and her family. Susan is an active member and supporter of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the Fruitlands Museum and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House.
Author: susanwbailey
My name is Susan Bailey and I find the life of Louisa May Alcott endlessly fascinating. I come from New England (specifically Massachusetts) and my family has been here in one form or another since the 1630ā²s. I live fairly close to Concord, MA where Orchard House, the homestead of the Alcotts, is located, and visit often. Every few years or so I go on a reading ābingeā about Louisa and this time around was so good, I just had to start a blog about my passion. The binge, by the way, still goes on!
Iāve been happily married for over 30 years and my husband is a deacon in the Melkite Church (Eastern Catholic ā I am Roman Catholic). We are proud parents of a grown son and daughter.
Iāve worked happily for the last 17 years at Rutledge Properties in Wellesley, MA, supporting the agents in the office.
And in my āother life,ā Iāve performed, written and recorded music exploring my Catholic faith. I have a website (www.susanbailey.net) where you can hear samples and find out more about this. I sing at various masses at my home parish of St. Luke the Evangelist in Westboro, MA.
Other interests include history (especially photographic), nature (especially bird watching), and I have the same āinordinate love of catsā that Louisa had. :-)
Because a childrenās book opened the way to my passion for Louisa May Alcott, I am always interested in reading other accounts meant for children. So when I came across Beyond Little Women A Story about Louisa May Alcott I was eager to read it. It was published in 2004, written by Susan Bivin Aller …
Note: When Amy Belding Brown asked me to review her latest book, I jumped at the chance; Mr. Emersonās Wife had been a game-changing book for me. I smiled when I read of her interest in finding out more about Puritan life since Transcendentalism, explored in her previous book, was a strong reaction to that …
Charline Bourdin of the Louisa May Alcott En France blog just sent me the most charming pictures of summertime Paris and Meudon where May Alcott Nieriker lived in the 1870s. Seeing these pictures gave me such a rush and I could see why May was so inspired. I traveled to this area as a teenager …
I created this video in tribute to these two special ladies in our lives. In a previous post I had mentioned how Louisa and Lizzie had changed my life; thus I put together this song and video in tribute. Enjoy and spread it around! Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to our …
In a previous post I shared how total immersion in the Alcott family has me channeling Louisa and Lizzie. I compared the experience to an actress preparing for a role and I thought of two actresses I know who portray Louisa. I emailed them both and they have both responded. I am pleased to share …
Hesperus Press, an independent London-based publisher is reissuing the most beloved of Louisa May Alcott's works on June 27thĀ with beautiful new covers: These would make a wonderful addition to any Little Women collection. Visit http://www.hesperuspress.com for more information; you can follow @hesperuspress on Twitter. Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to …
After four years of constant reading, study, writing and pondering on one family, I think I understand now how actors prepare for their roles, and the subsequent consequences of their immersion into their characters. Taking on the Louisa persona I'm acquainted with a couple of people (Jan Turnquist and Marianne Donnelly) who, as actresses, take …
Whenever I am outdoors, especially in the kayak, I feel like I am drinking, drinking, drinking. It's a sweet elixir that fills my soul. I imagine Thoreau and Louisa felt this way; she wrote about in Moods. It was because of that passage that I christened my kayak the Sylvia Yule. I took Sylvia out …
To Mother I hope that soon, dear mother, You and I may be In the quiet room my fancy Has so often made for thee, - The pleasant, sunny chamber, The cushioned easy-chair, The book laid for your reading, The vase of flowers fair; The desk beside the window Where the sun shines warm and …
Joās Boys is tinged with sadness. And wistfulness. Louisa worked on Joās Boys for seven years beginning in 1879, the year her youngest sister May died six weeks after bearing her daughter Lulu. Abba, known as āMarmeeā had died in 1877. Laurie and Amyās idyllic life Chapter Two, āParnassusā has us visiting the palatial home …